The leisure centre was shut in April under Cllr Rogers’s leadership but a community group, the Splash Community Trust, was formed and asked the council for £100,000 over two years to help them reopen the site.

That intervention appears to have split the Labour Group with a majority of members now prepared to back Splash’s bid to resurrect Plas Madoc.

The source told the Daily Post: “Since their resignations were announced, at least one of the 10 has confirmed that the majority of Labour councillors supporting Plas Madoc was what has caused Cllr Rogers to throw his toys out of the pram.

“It’s hardly behaviour befitting of a council leader, more like a petulant schoolboy taking his ball home because he’s lost.”

The Daily Post put this to Cllr Rogers who said: “I can assure this is not just about Plas Madoc, there are several (other) factors which I made clear in my statement.”

The ex-Labour councillors are expected to align themselves with the Democratic Independents, but Cllr Rogers said no talks had taken place so far.

Deputy council leader Mark Pritchard, a member of that group, confirmed that they had not aligned themselves with his group.

But he conceded that there would be a lot of discussions with all the parties over the coming weeks

Mark Pritchard said: “We’re in a state of flux. The most important thing is that we work to deliver services to the people of Wrexham and return to this issue as quickly as possible

When asked if he would put his name forward to become the next council leader, Mr Pritchard added: “I’ll do what is best for Wrexham but at this moment in time I will not be putting my name forward ”

The council’s chief executive, Doctor Helen Paterson, has promised the public that it will still be “business as usual”, despite the political shenanigans.

Dr Paterson said: “In times of political uncertainty it is important that all staff remember that we serve the whole council and the people of Wrexham.

“Day to day business continues as usual,” she added.

Dr Paterson confirmed that Cllr Rogers would remain leader and that the deputy leader (Mark Pritchard) and executive board members would remain in their roles.

Lesley Griffiths AM said she was “very disappointed” by the councillors’ resignations.

“Wrexham Council is facing significant challenges at present and the uncertainty created by this decision is unwelcome,” she said.

The man at the centre of the row with Cllr Rogers, ex-finance portfolio holder Malcolm King said: “I am very disappointed that our fellow Labour councillors have decided to leave the Labour group and even worse the Labour party itself.

“Some of them I have known for over 25 years and have always had a great respect and affection for them and will miss their comradeship very much.

“I very much hope it will not affect our ability to work together in the future.”